Image recording apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An image recording apparatus is disclosed for recording traffic signal violations such as a traffic light signal changing to a red light. The apparatus includes a capturing unit for capturing a first image substantially at an instant of time that a control signal changes its status and a storing unit for storing the first image at least temporarily. The apparatus includes a detecting unit for detecting presence of a vehicle or object beyond a location at which the vehicle or object is required to stop in response to the change in status and a device responsive to the detecting unit for recording a first image in the event that the detecting unit detects presence of the vehicle or object beyond the location. The apparatus may include a deleting unit for deleting the first image in the event that the detecting unit does not detect presence of the vehicle or object beyond the location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to image recording apparatus suitable for automatically recording traffic signal violations, such as failure of a vehicle to stop at a red traffic control signal at an intersection, a crossing for pedestrians or other location where traffic signals are used to control vehicular traffic.

Prior art recording devices for this purpose incorporate automatic camera systems which are triggered when a vehicle fails to stop after a traffic light turns red. A typical device may be triggered by a road sensor such as an inductive loop or loops installed below the road surface which senses the presence of a motor vehicle after it crosses a marked stop line associated with the traffic signal. The road sensor may alternatively be of the piezo type, and may be triggered when a vehicle touches the sensor installed within the road surface. Piezo type sensors are used when recording of accurate vehicle speed is required in addition to traffic light violation.

The usual method of recording images is by photographic means using 35 mm film. Two images (photographs) are recorded of each violation. One image is recorded as the vehicle proceeds over the stop line associated with the traffic signal and a further image is recorded approximately one half second later (or more depending upon the size of the intersection) to establish movement of the vehicle. In each photograph a data inset is included showing the date, time of day and the time (in seconds) that traffic lights had been red when the violation took place. Note that if only one photograph was taken, there would be no way of determining whether the vehicle actually proceeded through the intersection, turned left or right or stopped just over the stop line.

A disadvantage of prior art recording devices is that the position of the vehicle relative to the stop line when the lights turned red, is not known and can only be crudely estimated from the distance travelled by the vehicle in the two photographs taken, plus the red light time shown on the data inset in each photograph. In the case of a defended matter in Court the prosecution must prove that the lights were red before the vehicle concerned proceeded across the stop line. To ensure that this does in fact happen in each case, the cameras are set so that at least one half second of red light time elapses before the road sensors are enabled. As a result of this requirement many vehicles actually proceed through the red light without being detected during the first half second of red light time.

Bearing in mind that the distance covered by a vehicle in the first half second of red signal is dependant on vehicle speed, it is apparent that only the worst cases of red light traffic infringements ever get captured by the camera. There are considerably more red light traffic infringements occurring during the first half second of red signal which could be detected.

An object of the present invention is to provide image recording apparatus which alleviates the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an image recording apparatus suitable for recording traffic signal violations, said apparatus including:

-   -   means for capturing a first image substantially at an instant of         time that a control signal changes its status;     -   means for storing said first image at least temporarily;     -   means for detecting presence of a vehicle or object beyond a         location at which said vehicle or object is required to stop in         response to said change in status; and     -   means responsive to said detecting means for recording said         first image in the event that said detecting means detects         presence of said vehicle or object beyond said location.

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention may be adapted to record an image substantially at the moment that a traffic light changes to red. The image may be recorded whether or not an infringement actually takes place. The image recording apparatus may use digital capture technology to avoid the cost of an unused photograph when no violation occurs. Software controlling recording of the digital image may store the image in a temporary memory such as a volatile memory eg. RAM until the duration of the red light cycle is completed.

If no vehicle is detected by road sensors during that cycle, the software may remove the image from the temporary memory. If an infringement does take place, the image may be transferred from temporary memory to a more permanent location. Because the image was recorded substantially at the time that the light changed to red, it should clearly show the position of the vehicle relative to the stop line when the light changed to red, providing excellent evidence for prosecution.

The apparatus of the present invention, may record additional images using cameras provided with wide angle and telephoto lenses. The wide angle image may show the whole of the intersection including the status of the traffic lights. The telephoto image may show a close up image of the offending vehicle and may provide a clear view of its number plate. Cameras incorporating wide angle and telephoto lenses may be of the kind disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/AU94/00260, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by cross reference. The apparatus may be arranged such that one camera fitted with a telephoto lens monitors each traffic lane individually. The data inset in the recorded image may show real time, date and red light time of the infringement as well as identifying the traffic lane in which a vehicle was detected.

If a traffic accident occurs as a result of a traffic light violation, the images recorded may provide graphic details of the sequence of events leading up to the accident and an image of the collision itself. This may provide vital evidence, particularly at a Coroners Inquest for determining the culpability of a driver when a fatal accident occurs. This aspect of the invention is particularly relevant, bearing in mind that many red light violations have been undetected with conventional red light camera technology.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of recording traffic violations including the steps of:

-   -   capturing a first image substantially at an instant of time that         a control signal changes its status;     -   storing said first image at least temporarily;     -   detecting presence of a vehicle or object beyond a location at         which said vehicle or object is required to stop in response to         said change in status; and     -   recording said first image in the event that said detecting         means detects presence of said vehicle or object beyond said         location.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an intersection with a traffic light camera installation;

FIG. 2 shows a closeup view of components of the installation;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a computer based controller for the traffic light camera installation; and

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of software associated with the computer based controller.

FIG. 1 shows a typical intersection 10 of two roads controlled by traffic lights 11–14. Traffic lights 11–14 are cycled between the colours red, amber and green via a control unit 15. Although traffic lights 11–14 are associated with a roadway configured for left-hand drive traffic, the principles of the present invention apply equally to right-hand drive traffic.

Intersection 10 is monitored by image recording apparatus according to the present invention. The recording apparatus is located in a roadside housing 16 located approximately 10–40 meters from intersection 10, giving a view of the roadway leading up to the intersection and the intersection 10 itself.

The apparatus includes digital cameras 17–19 (refer FIG. 2) connected to a digital computer 20 within housing 16 for recording digital images of the intersection in the event of a red light infringement, i.e. a vehicle fails to stop and proceeds past white stop line 21 marked on the roadway associated with traffic light 11, after light 11 has turned red.

One or more of cameras 17–19 may be triggered when a vehicle passes over a road sensor 22, 23 such as an inductive loop or loops set below the road surface forward of stop line 21. As the vehicle crosses sensor 22 or 23 and the traffic light 11 is red, a trigger signal is sent to cameras 17–19 to record two images in sequence. One image may be recorded as the vehicle crosses sensor 22 or 23 and another image may be recorded approximately one half second later (this may vary depending on the intersection).

Cameras 17–19 may be enabled when light 11 has turned red and may remain enabled for the whole of the red cycle. Cameras 18 and 19 may be triggered when the vehicle crosses road sensors 22 and 23 respectively during the red cycle.

For an infringement to have occurred it is imperative to establish that the vehicle concerned was some distance behind stop line 21 when traffic light 11 turned red. In a case of a prosecution of an infringement in Court based on evidence obtained by an automatic unattended camera device, this must be proven by some means.

According to the present invention, camera 17 fitted with a wide angle lens may capture an image of the approach to intersection 10 at the moment that traffic light 11 turns red. The wide angle image may show the position of a vehicle approaching the intersection at that time. The wide angle image may be in addition to any later images recorded as the result of the triggering of the camera if the vehicle subsequently crosses road sensor 22 or 23 during the red cycle.

If an eventual infringement takes place during the red cycle by a vehicle, then the position of that vehicle relative to stop line 21, will be clearly seen and recorded in the wide angle image.

If no infringement takes place during the ensuing red light cycle, the wide angle image may be automatically removed from images stored in the computer following completion of the red light cycle. If an infringement is detected, the wide angle image may be retained with images taken subsequently when the vehicle enters the intersection.

The images may be stored under control of computer software. In the event of infringement, the images may be recorded relatively permanently by means such as an optical recording device using Write Once Read Many times (WORM) type media. One advantage of using WORM type media is that the images and data representing an infringement cannot be easily altered or erased. The optical recording device may be contained within housing 16.

There are physical connections between the traffic lights 11 to 14, control unit 15, road sensors 22, 23, cameras 17 to 19 and the image recording device to enable triggering and operation of the apparatus.

Computer software may control operation of the camera or cameras within housing 16. In the present example camera 17 fitted with a wide angle lens may be used to record the commencement of the red light cycle. Camera 18 is fitted with a telephoto lens and may be used to record a first close up image of the vehicle crossing stop line 21 and a second image of the vehicle within the intersection one half second later. Where there are two traffic lanes on the approach to the intersection then a further camera (19) may be fitted with a telephoto lens and used for the second traffic lane. Where these are more than two traffic lanes, then a separate camera fitted with a telephoto lens may be used for each traffic lane.

Operation of multiple cameras and the images they record may be under software control.

Each image recorded may include an inset within the image showing time, date and location of an infringement and may show red light time, i.e. the time in seconds and tenths of seconds that the signal had been showing red.

Images recorded in the event of an infringement may also identify the relevant lane eg. by number (when there are multiple lanes) to show which lane sensor 22, 23 was triggered during the infringement.

FIG. 3 shows one form of digital computer 20 which may be adapted to control operation of cameras 17–19 and one or more image recording devices. Computer system 20 includes CPU motherboard 31 to which are connected a number of peripherals including LCD display screen 32, hard disc drive 33, video capture card 34, keyboard controller 35 and SCSI controller 36. Motherboard 31 includes on board RAM memory (not shown) as is known in the art. The image recording devices include the on board RAM memory (temporary storage) and an optical drive unit 37.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of software which may be used to control the image capture sequence.

Every time a traffic signal turns red (thru lanes or turn arrow), a wide-angle image is recorded at the instant of light change to red and the image is saved in computer RAM memory i.e. it is not yet saved to disk. The wide-angle image shows all traffic lights visible to a driver on that side of the road and all lanes through the intersection.

If an infringement is detected, a second image is recorded which shows a close-up (telephoto) image of the vehicle. If no infringement occurs during this red light cycle, the first wide-angle image is discarded and nothing is written to disk.

After a delay of approximately 300 milliseconds (this value may be adjustable), another close-up image is recorded so as to prove movement of the vehicle past the detection point.

After another similar delay period a second wide-angle image is recorded for confirmation of the position of the infringing vehicle in the detected lane and that the traffic lights is still red.

At this point the images and data associated with the infringements are transferred from RAM memory to disk. Should an error occur during any of the above processes, the images are discarded and not saved to disk.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. 

1. Image recording apparatus suitable for recording traffic signal violations, said apparatus including: a first telephoto camera focused on a first lane of an intersection controlled by a traffic signal; a second telephoto camera focused on a second lane of the intersection; a wide angle camera focused on the intersection; means for capturing a first image from the wide angle camera substantially at an instant of time that a control signal for the traffic signal changes its status; means for storing said first image at least temporarily; means for detecting presence of a vehicle or object beyond a location of the intersection at which said vehicle or object is required to stop in response to said change in status; means responsive to said detecting means for recording said first image in the event that said detecting means detects presence of said vehicle or object beyond said location; and means for capturing a second image from the first or second telephoto camera in response to said detecting means.
 2. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 including means for capturing the second image after a preset time delay following said instant of time.
 3. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 including means for compressing the image size of said first and second image.
 4. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said change in status includes a traffic light signal changing to a redlight.
 5. Image recording apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said wide angle camera, first telephoto camera, and second telephoto camera comprises a digital camera, and wherein said means for compressing comprises digital compression.
 6. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for storing includes a volatile memory.
 7. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for recording includes WORM type media.
 8. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 including means for deleting said first image in the event that said detecting means does not detect presence of said vehicle or object beyond said location.
 9. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first image shows at least the position of said vehicle or object relative to said location.
 10. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detecting means includes an inductive loop set below a road surface proximate said intersection.
 11. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said location includes a stop line marked on a roadway proximate said intersection.
 12. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for capturing a third image including an additional wide angle image from the wide angle camera after the capturing of the second image.
 13. Image recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first image includes an approach to the intersection.
 14. A method of recording traffic violations at an intersection controlled by a traffic signal, the method including the steps of: capturing a first image of the intersection from a wide angle camera aimed at the intersection substantially at an instant of time that a control signal changes its status; storing said first image at least temporarily; detecting presence of a vehicle or object beyond a location at which said vehicle or object is required to stop in response to said change in status of said traffic signal; recording said first image in the event that said detecting step detects presence of said vehicle or object beyond said location; and capturing a second image from a first telephoto camera aimed at a first lane in said intersection or a second telephoto camera aimed at a second lane in said intersection, in response to said detecting step.
 15. A method according to claim 14 including capturing the second image a preset time delay following said instant of time.
 16. A method according to claim 14 including the step of compressing the respective image sizes of said first and second image.
 17. A method according to claim 14 wherein said change in status includes the traffic signal changing to a redlight.
 18. A method according to claim 14 wherein each of said wide angle camera, first telephoto camera, and said second telephoto camera comprises a digital camera.
 19. A method according to claim 14 wherein said first image is stored in volatile memory.
 20. A method according to claim 14 wherein said first image is recorded onto WORM type media.
 21. A method according to claim 14 including the step of deleting said first image in the event that said detecting step does not detect presence of said vehicle or object beyond said location.
 22. A method according to claim 14 wherein said first image shows at least the position of said vehicle or object relative to said location.
 23. A method according claim 14 wherein said detecting step is performed with an inductive loop set below a road surface proximate said intersection.
 24. A method according to claim 14 wherein said location includes a stop line marked on a roadway proximate said intersection.
 25. A method according to claim 14 further comprises the step of capturing a third image including an additional wide angle image from the wide angle camera after capturing the second image.
 26. A method according to claim 14 wherein said first image includes an approach to the intersection. 